Shown in the photo taken Jan. 9, 2018, is the Main Press Centre in PyeongChang, an alpine town in South Korea’s northeastern province of Gangwon and the host of the 2018 Winter Games. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – The organizers of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics said Thursday they are operating a special team of technicians managing radio-spectrum issues at venues to avoid interference of wireless devices and ensure accurate tracking of records.
PyeongChang’s organizing committee and the Ministry of Science and ICT said the team of 250 staffers will support and maintain wireless communications at the 2018 Winter Olympics and the Paralympic Games slated for February and March, respectively.
Major sports events like the Olympics call for various telecommunications devices, including wireless cameras and measurement instruments, to deliver real-time broadcasts and keep track of athletes’ records precisely.
The organizer estimates around 200,000 units of telecommunication devices will be brought to the venues by athlete delegations, journalists and broadcasters throughout the events.
As any interference among devices may result in inaccurate records or disruptions in broadcast, it is vital for the organizers to prepare thoroughly for a smooth communication of devices.
The ministry said all wireless devices brought to the 2018 Winter Olympics and the Paralympic Games must go through inspections and receive stickers of approval, to make sure the instruments do not clash with each other.
“The PyeongChang Olympics will act as an important opportunity for (South Korea) to boast its latest capabilities in the field of information and communication technology, including Ultra HD, fifth-generation network, and the Internet-of-Things (IoT) industries,” Science Minister Yoo Young-min said.
“We will safely manage the radio spectrum, which is vital for tracking records and airing broadcasts, and provide necessary supports,” the minister added.
Throughout the events, the designated staffers will stay at nine spectrum management rooms located in the host county of PyeongChang, as well as its sub-host city of Gangneung, providing various radio-spectrum related services, including granting approvals on telecommunication devices.
The team will also operate 10 automobiles at venues to monitor radio frequencies and quickly cope with potential problems around the clock.
(Yonhap)
